Pilatus PC-9 Wallpapers

Pilatus PC-9 Wallpapers

<b>Pilatus PC-9 Aircraft; photo wallpapers:</b> The Pilatus PC-9 is a single-engine, low-wing tandem-seat turboprop training aircraft manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. The PC-9 is a more powerful evolution of the PC-7.
It retains the overall layout of its predecessor but has very little
structural commonality with it. Amongst other improvements, the PC-9
features a larger cockpit with stepped ejection seats and also has a
ventral airbrake. The PC-9 programme officially started in 1982. Although some aerodynamic elements were tested on a PC-7 during 1982 and 1983, the first flight of the first PC-9 prototype took place on 7 May 1984. A second prototype flew on 20 July
of the same year; this prototype had all the standard electronic flight
instrumentation and environmental control systems installed and was
thus almost fully representative of the production version. Certification was achieved in September 1985. Unfortunately by this time the PC-9 had lost in the RAF trainer competition to the Short Tucano. However, the marketing links that Pilatus built up with British Aerospace during the competition stood them in good stead, as it soon led to their first order from Saudi Arabia. The first production aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force flew on 19 May 1987, under the Australian designation PC-9/A. Condor Flugdienst of Germany uses 10 examples of the target-towing variant under the designation PC-9B.
This variant has an increased fuel capacity enabling flight for up 3
hours and 20 minutes as well as two Southwest RM-24 winches under the
wings. These winches can reel out a target up to 3,5 kilometres. In order to compete in the United States JPATS competition, Pilatus and Beech Aircraft Corporation developed an extensively modified version of the PC-9, called the Beech Pilatus PC-9 Mk. II. It was later renamed the T-6A Texan II and is now built and marketed independently by Raytheon (who purchased Beech in 1980). The PC-9 M was introduced in 1997
as the new standard model. It has an enlarged dorsal fin in order to
improve longitudinal stability, modified wingroot fairings, stall
strips on the leading edges as well as new engine and propeller
controls. Slovenia placed an order for 9 in December of the same year, Oman ordered 12 examples in January 1999 and Ireland signed a contract for 8 in January 2003. More than 250 aircraft of this type have been built to date.

Pilatus PC-9 Gallery:

Pilatus PC-9, 15964